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Nearby Henleaze Infant and Junior schools - which were already finishing for the day - were evacuated and residents were told to keep their distance, as police and firefighters set up a 50-metre safety perimeter.

Remaining pupils were ushered out of a side entrance to avoid the cordoned-off area.

Bomb squad truck in Park Grove, Henleaze, scene of an alert over an 'unstable substance'

The school later confirmed that all the pupils were safe.

Eventually the cordon was relaxed and Park Grove residents were allowed to re-enter their homes, but they were told to ensure all windows and doors were shut.

One mother, who had been waiting for around an hour, said: "We were all told to leave very quickly.

"It was a bit frustrating because I've got a cake in the oven. I did manage to turn the oven off before I left."

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit were called to tackle the mystery substance and arrived on the scene shortly before 6.40pm.

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Cathy Warner, who came to the school to attend a tai chi evening class which was cancelled because of the alert, said: “I’d rather that people were careful and it’s better to be safe than sorry, so I don’t mind, it’s one of those things.”

Avon Fire and Rescue Service station manager Justin Hobbs said: "We were called earlier to assist our colleagues from the police in dealing with an incident they'd been called to.

"A man had discovered a science collection he had from some years ago, which consisted of samples of different substances.

"One of those substances was picric acid, which in its liquid state is safe but when it dries out it can become volatile.

"As a precaution, we liaised with colleagues from the police, ambulance and the army to dispose of this substance safely.

"We worked closely with the school as well and, as people might have heard, brought this to a safe conclusion."